Nov. 19, 1963 W. J. LEE SHIRT FOLDING MACHINE Filed May ll, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wing A. Lee INVENTOR. by A-4,5- anzawy &Arafat
Nov. 19, 1963 W. J. EE SHIRT FOLDING MACHINE Filed May 11, 1960 4. Sheets-Sheet 2 EEA R; o I % trirrty sis UE Wing / Aee INVENTOR.
Nov. 19, 1963 Filed May ll, l960 W. J. LEE SHIRT FOLDING MACHINE 4. Sheets-Sheet 3 Wing J. Lee INVENTOR.
Nov. 19, 1963 W. J. LEE SHIRT FOLDING MACHINE Filed May ill, l960 4. Sheets-Sheet 4 s Wing / lee INVENTOR. BY A-485 2afaway 8Arafat,
United States Patent Office Patented Nov. 19, 1963 1. 3,11,246 SHERT FOLDENG MACH NE Wing J. Lee, 1322 Neck Road, Brooklyn, N.Y. Fied May 11, 1950, Ser. No. 28,273 9 Cainas. (C. 223-37) The present invention generally relates to a machine for use in folding shirts and more particularly Such a machine which may be operated either mechanically by a foot pedal or by a fluid pressure power assist mechanism operated and controlled by a foot pedal. The primary object of the present invention is to pro vide a shirt folding machine incorporating a novel ar rangement of shirt engaging elements mechanically inter related in such a manner as to fold the sleeve and adja cent side portions of the shirt in the proper manner with the machine requiring a minimum amount of time in positioning the shirt and orientating the components of the shirt properly for folding into a neat and yet com pact package. Another important object of the present invention is to provide a shirt foiding machine having components thereof which are substantially semi-automatic in opera tion but still are relatively simple in construction, easy to operate, long-lasting, dependable and generally inex pensive to manufacture, operate and maintain. Still another important feature of the present inven tion is to provide a shirt folding machine in which there is provided a plurality of interchangeable shirt collar en gaging members for engagement with a collar block in corporated into the folding machine. These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully here in after described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the shirt folding machine of the present invention illustrating the struc tural features and orientation of the components thereof; FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the machine which engages the shirt; FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse, sectional view taken Substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the details of construc tion of the mechanism for the folding arms; FIGURE 4 is a vertical longitudinal, sectional frag mentary view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 illustrating further structural details of the invention and with alternative positions of certain components being shown in dotted lines; FIGURE 5 is a detailed top plan view of the collar block mechanism; FiGURE 6 is a bottom plan view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 6-6 of FIGURE 4 illustrating the operating mechanism for the collar blocks; FIGURE 7 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating an orientation of the shirt folding machine with a shirt positioned thereon and illustrating the initial stages of th folding operation; - FIGURE 8 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 7 but illustrating the folding machine in the next stage of the folding operation; FIGURE 9 is a perspective view similar to FIGURES 7 and 8 but illustrating the next stage in the folding operation; FIGURE 10 is a perspective view similar to FIGURES 7-9 illustrating the shirt completely folded in readiness for removal from the folder machine; 20 30 35 40 45 50 60 65 70 2 FIGURE 11 is a detailed view illustrating the modified mechanical operation of the present invention; FEGURE 12 is a perspective view of one of the collar engaging members attached to the collar block mecha In ISn; FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a modified form of shirt collar engaging member; FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of another form of a collar engaging member; FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of a still another form of collar engaging member; FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of yet another form of a shirt collar engaging member; FiGURE 17 is a perspective view of one of the op erating mechanism slides for the arms and the manner in which this is actuated; and FIGURE 18 is a perspective view of one of the other arm operating slide having a rack thereon. Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral E9 generally designates the shirt folding machine of the present invention which includes a vertically hol low cabinet 2 or the like having a work surface 4 on the top surface thereof for receiving a shirt 16 in face down relation with the arms 13 of the shirt extending outward ly therefrom. One end of the cabinet 2 is provided with a supporting bracket and housing 29 for receiving a finishing iron 22 which may be employed when necessary and a suitable electrical outlet may be provided in the cabinet for connection with the electric finishing iron 22. The working end of the work surface 14 is provided with an enlarged shirt collar receiving opening therein designated by numeral 24, FIGURE 4, under which a collar block mechanism 26 is mounted for engagement with the shirt coilar 28. The collar block mechanism 26 includes a mounting plate 30 having an upwardly extend ing rear flange 32 attached to the table surface or work ing Surface i4 by bolts or the like 34. The plate 30 is provided with a pair of transversely aligned and spaced slots 36, FIGURE 5, receiving upwardly projecting mem bers 38 attached to slides 40 and 42, FIGURE 6. The upper ends of the projections 33 carry blocks 44 and 46 to which are attached detachable collar engaging members 48 and 59, respectively. Fastening bolts 52 are provided for detachably retaining the color engaging members 48 and 50 in position for enabling interchangeability thereof. For operating the slides 40 and 42, there is provided a centrally disposed gear 54 engaged with racks 56 and 58 which are rigid with the respective slides 40 and 42 respectively. Thus, when the gear 54 is rotated, the racks 56 and 58 are moved outwardly or inwardly in relation to each other depending upon the direction of rotation of the gear 54 thus moving the slides 40 and 42 outwardly and inwardly along with the members 38 and the blocks 44 and 46 and the collar engaging members 48 and 50 whereby the collar engaging members may shape or block the collar when they move outwardly and may be re leased from the collar when they move inwardly. Adjacent to the slots 36, see FIGURES 5 and 6, there is provided a single slot 60 having a rod 62 extending upwardly therefrom which has a rubber bumper tip. 64 thereon. The rod 62 is connected with a piston in piston and cylinder arrangement 66 connected with a hose or pipe 68 for a purpose described hereinafter. The slides 40 and 42 are retained in their position by a pair of guides 70 and 72, see FIGURES 4 and 6 rigidly attached to the plate 30 by fastener means 74. The slide 42 is provided with a depending lug 76 to which is at tached a pair of arms 78 extending laterally outwardly beyond the guides 70 and 72. The arms 78 are rigid with the lugs 76 and the outer ends thereof are connected to a piston rod 80 which is rigidly connected with a piston in a piston and cylinder arrangement 82. The piston and
3. cylinder arrangement 82 is rigidly secured to the plate 36 by virtue of a pair of U-bolts or saddles 34 rigidly affixed to the underside of the piate 39 by retaining nuts or the like. Surrounding the piston rod 86 is a compression coil spring 86 which extends between the inner lug 73 and the end of the cylinder of the piston and cylinder arrange ment 32 thus normally urging the lugs 78 towards the outer edge of the plate 30 and thus urging the slides 42 and 40 outwardly and also the collar engaging members 48 and 56 outwardly into collar engaging position. The piston and cylinder arrangement 82 is provided with an adapter 88 connected with a pressure supply hose 90 communicating with the inner end of the piston and cylinder arrangement 82 and also with the hose 68 which extends from the adapter 88 to the piston and cylinder arrangement 66. The hose 93 is connected with a source of pressurized fluid through a valve structure controlled by a foot pedal 92 pivotally mounted on a rod 94 adjacent the base of the cabinet and projecting outwardly through a notch 96 therein. The details of the control valve are not shown since this may be of any suitable construction and may be mounted on the botton surface of the plate 3G and controlled from the foot pedal 92 by a control line 98. The foot pedal thus controls the supply of fluid pressure and effects operation simultaneously of the col lar mechanism cylinder 82 and of the cylinder 66. Referring specifically to FIGURE 11, the structure is the same except that a mechanical device is provided in place of the fluid pressure operating cylinder 32 for op erating the slides 46 and 42. In this form of the inven tion, the slide 42 is provided with the lugs 78' with the outermost lug being elongated as indicated by numeral 109 and attached adjustably to a threaded rod 62. A rod 104 is attached to the lugs 78' in the same position as the rod 83 in FIGURE 6 and this rod 84 is slidably engaged with a bracket S65 spaced therefrom with the coil spring 108 being mounted on the rod 84 between the bracket 106 and the lugs 78' thus normally urging the slides 40' and 42 outwardly or away from each other. This acts generally in the nature of the spring 86 and the piston rod 80 for normally urging the collar block mem bers outward. Connected to the free end of the threaded rod 32 is a sprocket chain 10 passing over a sprocket gear 12 carried by a bracket 14 on the bottom of the plate 36. The sprocket chain then extends slightly downwardly and connects with a foot pedal i8 whereby operation of the foot pedal Ai8 will effect closing or movement inwardly of the members 40' and 42 for releasing the collar blocks from the shirt. From the preceding structure, it will be apparent that the shirt folding machine coilar block mechanism may be operated either mechanically by foot pressure or hy draulically, or pneumatically by foot pressure controlling the valve to the hydraulic or pneumatic operating mech anism. In each case, the gear 54 acts as an idler be tween the racks 56 and 58 to synchronize the movement of the collar engaging members either inwardly or out wardly. At one end of the cabinet 12 is mounted a hollow en closure or housing 129 including a bottom plate 222 and mounting brackets 24 connected rigidly thereto whereby the housing 120 is mounted pivotally on a support rod 126. The support rod 26 extends transversely of the cabinet 12 and is secured thereto by brackets 23 fixed to the cabinet as shown in FIGURE 9. The rod 25 is retained on the brackets 28 by removable collars 39 thus pivotally supporting the housing 20 for rotational movement about the transverse horizontal axis formed by the shaft 26 from the full line position shown in FIGURE 4 to the dotted line position shown in FIG URE 4. Also mounted rigidly in the housing 120 is a front plate 132 disposed inwardly of the front wall 34 and adjustably supported in position by slotted spacers 36. Rigidly ex 4. tending outwardly from the foat wall 34 is an attaching plate 138 having a foiding board 40 rigidly attached thereto for swinging movement therewith. The folding board 49 overhangs and overlies the back of the shirt collar 26 and the central portion of the main body of the shirt 6 when the latter is placed on the cabinet top 14. On one face thereof, the mounting plate 132 has upper and lower horizontally extending track members 142. As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the members 14.2 are L O shaped in cross-section having their horizontal fanges weided to the plate 132 and with their vertical flanges extending towards each other and parallel to plate 132 to define a guideway therebetween. A pair of identical but inversely positioned U-shaped 5 slides 44, see FIGURES 17 and 18, are slidably received in the guideway. Each slide comprises a lug in the form of a vertical plate 176 from which project horizontal vertically spaced legs completing the U-shape of the slide. These legs are slidably retained by the track members 42 and consist of a flat bar 69 and a rack bar 46 with rack teeth thereon. In one slide, as in FIGURE 17 the rack bar is at the bottom while in the other slide of FIGURE 18 the rack bar is at the top. A pair of shafts 150 are journaled in the plate 32 and each carries a pinion gear 148 fixed thereon and en gaging the rack bar 46 of one of the slides 144. Each shaft i53 has an L-shaped crank 52 fixed thereto and extending above the cabinet top 54. The t-shaped arin 252 includes a short leg 54 rigid with the cylindrical shaft 53 and an elongated leg 156 extending parallel to the shirt folding board 148. The arms i56, see FiG URE 4, are each provided with an upwardly offset por tion 559 adjacent the short leg 554. The offset portion 159 is generally in alignment with the offset 58 in the edge portion of the folding board, see FIGURE 2. Each side has its apertured lug or plate 178 slidably engaged with an elongated rod 162 disposed parallel with the mounting plate 32 and rigidly supported on the latter by the lug 64 secured to the end of the plate 132. Springs i66 embracing the rod 362 each abut against a lug 64 and against adjusting nuts 168 abutting the bracket or lug 78 whereby the springs urge the slides 144 away from each other and towards the outer ends of the track members 142 thereby through the rack and pinion 246, 48 rotating the shafts 50 and the arms 156 for a purpose to be subsequently apparent. At the outer end of the rod, there is provided a lug 72 which engages with a pin 174 engaged or rigid with a sliding plunger 75 carried within a sleeve 78. The other end of the pin or plunger 74 is connected with a coil spring 89 which extends to a mounting bracket 182 for a shaft 84, see 20 25 30 45 55 60 65 70 75 FI6 URE 3. The other end of the shaft 184, is provided with a similar mounting bracket 182 and the shaft 184 is held in position by collars 86. Mounted on the shaft 84 is a pivotal plate 183 spring biased to a horizontal position by axial spring i96 engaged with one bearing block 82 and with the plate 183. Also, the plate 88 is provided with a counterbalance weight 192, see FIG URES 3, 4, 7-10, to also urge the plate to a horizontal position and form a handle for the plate. The bottom rear edge of the plate 88 will normally engage the lugs 70 so that the lugs 170 form a limit for the movement there of. Also, see FIGURE 3, a depending lug or bracket 94 is provided which will be engaged by the inclined end 196 of the plunger 178, FIGURE 17, for retaining the plate i38 in upwardly inclined position. Connected with the forward edge of the plate 38 is a pair of downwardly extending strap members 93 which terminate in outwardly extending arms 200 disposed in parallel relation to the table surface 14 for overlying and engaging the shirt in a manner to be described herein after. Extending horizontally through the housing 120 and the plate 132 is a tubular sleeve 202 having a plunger 204 mounted therein with the plunger having an inclined
5 outer end 206 disposed in the path of movement of and forming a latch or latch means for the short leg portions 154 of the arm 152. The plunger 234 is provided with a rigidly depending rod 298 which extends below and through a slot 210 in the housing 128 with the spring 5 22 interconnecting the pin 208 with a depending anchor pin 214 on the plate 38. When the pin 298 pivots downwardly with the housing 120, it will engage an abutment member 216 carried by the mounting plate 30 so that it will retract the plunger 0 204 thus releasing or unlatching the arms 152 as well as the arms 200 so that a folded shirt i6 may be removed from the folding board 140. For moving of the housing 520 from the position shown in FIGURE 4 to the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 4, the bumper 64 is pro vided which will be operated by fluid pressure. If the manual or mechanical device is used, then a flexible string, chain or the like will be provided and is designated by numeral 218 which is attached to the bottom plate in any suitable manner for pivoting the housing upwardly. 20 in operation, the device will normally be disposed in the doited line position as illustrated in FIGURE 4 which is the position for removal of a folded shirt 6. A shirt 16 will then be placed on the working table and straightened out with the collar thereof depending through the opening 24 in the work table for engagement by the coliar engaging members 48 and 50. The shirt is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 7 and the housing 128 is then pivoted downwardly which will ring the shirt folding board 140 into engagement with 30 the back of the shirt and also bring the arms 156 into engagement with the shirt. The shift arms will then be foided inwards as illustrated in FIGURE 8 and the left hand arm again folded inwardly into the position illus trated in FIGURE 9 where it will be held or latched in 35 place by the plunger 204. Due to the rigid engagement with the threaded shaft 162, the other arm 156 will be moved to an intermediate upwardly inclined position as illustrated in FIGURE 9. However, before this has been done, the two arms 200 are lowered by virtue of 40 the initial movement of the left hand arm releasing the plunger 173 from the plate i88 so that it may swing downwardly. Then the arm 56 is swung all the way inwardly as illustrated in FIGURE 9 and subsequently, the second arm 156 is swung from the position illus 45 trated in FIGURE 9 to the position illustrated in FIG URE 10 by manually grasping this arm and then the re taining band or strap is placed on the folded shirt. Op eration of the foot pedal 92 will then cause the shirt co lar block members 48 and 50 to engage the shirt col lar and retain it in position and at the same time shape or block the shirt collar. When it is desired to release the shirt, either manual or pneumatic operating foot pedal 118 is actuated which will effect inward movement of the collar blocks and automatically pivot the housing 23 upwardly either by virtue of the bumper 64 or the me chanical chain so that this will pivot the folding board i49 upwardly after the shirt has been removed or as the shirt is being removed. After the housing 20 gets to its uppermost position, the plate 188 is released due to retrac tion of the plunger 204 thus also releasing the arms 56 so that they may all return automatically to an open or normal position. As illustrated in FIGURES 12-16 respectively, each of the shirt engaging members includes a mounting base 230 each including a pair of apertures 232 for receiving the fasteners 52. Projecting upwardly from the base plate 239 is a body or a block 234 having various curvatures and configurations depending upon the particular type of shirt involved and depending upon the particular con figuration desired to be given to the shirt. For example, FIGURE 12 illustrates a generally semi-cylindrical pro jection 236 having a laterally extending strap member 233 extending outwardly therefrom for engagement with the portion of the shirt adjacent the collar. in FIGURE 50 60 65 6 13, a similar type of projection 24 is illustrated having an inclined curved surface 242 along with a projecting lug or strap 244 thereon. In FIGURE 14, an upstand ing strap member 246 is provided having an offset upper arm 248 provided with a hook 250 on the inner end thereof for providing the collar with substantially a flat folded condition. FIGURE 15 illustrates a similar type of upwardly inclined offset strap 252 having a hook shaped configuration 254 at the upper end thereof and being secured to the base block 230 at the lower end thereof by virtue of a spacer 256. In FIGURE 16, another type of shirt collar block is disclosed in which the upward projection is provided with an inclined sur face 258 and also a curved surface 260 and a projecting lug or strap 262 at the upper end thereof. In all forms of the collar block, the collar block is provided with a base plate 238 for attachment to the members 44 and 46 by suitable fasteners. Thus, the present invention involves a structure which will maintain the mechanism in open position with the collar blocks moved inwardly while the shirt is being positioned with the foot pressure or foot pedal being em ployed for retaining the collar blocks inwardly and for re taining the mechanism in open condition. Then, when the shirt collar is positioned in relation to the collar block, the foot pedal is released thus allowing the collar block to expand by virtue of the spring means which urges the lugs 73 outwardly. When this occurs, the folding board and the arms 56 move downwardly and then the shirt sleeves are folded over the arms 156 in the manner illustrated. After this is accomplished, the arms 156 are folded inwardly with the arms 200 already being in posi tion. When one of the arms, namely the left arm 56, is moved upwardly, it partially pivots the other arm upwardly and the plunger is employed for retaining the arms in inwardly folded position whereupon the folded shirt may then be strapped or tied with a paper strap with the mechanism subsequently being released by either of the foot pedals which will pivot the folding board, arms and housing upwardly with the shirt collar being removed from the collar blocks since the collar blocks will be moved inwardly thus enabling removal of the shirt from the machine. The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the inven tion to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed. What is claimed as new is as follows: 1. A shirt folding machine comprising a table surface for receiving a shirt in face down relation, said table Surface having an opening, means mounted below said table surface and disposed in said opening for engagement with the shirt collar, a housing mounted pivotally at one end of said table surface, a folding board mounted on said housing for movement therewith whereby the fold ing board may move into contacting relation with the shirt positioned on the table surface, a pair of L-shaped arms mounted on said housing for engagement with the shirt and forming a folding guide for the side edge portions and the sleeves of the shirt, said L-shaped arms being each pivotal about a longitudinal axis for swinging the side edge portions and the sleeve portions of the shirt into overlying relation with the central portion of the shirt, latch means adapted to retain the L-shaped arms in said overlying relation with the shirt folded, means for automatically moving said latch means sequentially to inoperative and operative positions when said L-shaped arms are moved into overlying relation to the shirt, means connected with the housing for pivoting the housing, the folding board and L-shaped arms upwardly and simulta neously releasing the collar engaging means for enabling
77 s removal of the folded shirt, said housing being provided with a pivotal plate mounted thereon, said pivotal plate including another pair of arms adapted to overiie the shirt in overlying relation to the folding board when in operative position, said plate being spring biased toward said folding board, means interconnecting said L-shaped arms and the pivotal plate for releasing the plate upon initial inward movement of one of said L-shaped arms including a reciprocating plunger disposed in said hous ing, said pivotal piate having a lug extending downwardly for Swinging movement in a vertical plane, said plunger having an inclined end disposed in the path of movement of the lug whereby the lug may pass the plunger and force it longitudinally, spring means urging the plunger longi tudinally toward the lug whereby the plunger will fall behind the lug and lock the lug with the plate in upwardly inclined relation to the housing, a sliding rack mounted in said housing, a pinion gear connected to the one pivotal L-shaped arm and rotated in response to pivotal move ment thereof for urging the rack longitudinally, and abut ment means carried by the rack for engagement with a portion of the plunger for retracting the plunger thus releasing the pivotal plate and the pair of arms thereon when the one L-shaped arm is pivoted inwardly initially. 2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said rack is rigidly attached to a rod having a lug thereon with the rod and lug forming the abutment means, the other of said L-shaped arms having a pinion gear thereon, a sliding rack in the housing engaged with the pinion gear, and a lost motion connection between the rod and the rack moved by the other L-shaped arm whereby a portion of the movement of the rod caused by movement of the one l-shaped arm will be transmitted to the other L-shaped arm thereby moving the other L-shaped arm to an inter mediate position when the one L-shaped arm is pivoted to an operative position. 3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for pivoting the housing upwardly includes a flexi ble chain connected thereto and connected to a foot pedal. 4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for pivoting the housing upwardly includes a pneu matically operated piston and cylinder arrangement hav ing a bumper engaging the lower surface of the housing for pivoting the housing upwardly. 5. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for engaging the collar includes a pair of slides mounted for lateral movement inwardly and outwardly in relation to the side edges of the table surface, guide means for guilding the movement of said slides, each of said slides having an inwardly facing rack thereon with the : racks disposed in parallel facing relationship and in tele scopic overlying relationship, an idler spur gear intercon necting the racks and supported from the table surface thereby synchronizing the movement of the slides. 6. A shirt folding machine comprising a table surface for receiving a shirt in face down relation, said table sur face having an opening, means mounted below said table surface and disposed in said opening for engagement with the shirt collar, a housing mounted pivotally at one end of said table surface, a folding board mounted on said housing for movement therewith whereby the folding board may move into contacting relation with the shirt positioned on the table surface, a pair of L-shaped arms mounted on said housing for engagement with the shirt and forming a folding guide for the side edge portions and the sleeves of the shirt, said L-shaped arms being each pivotal about a longitudinal axis for swinging the side edge portions and the sleeve portions of the shirt into overlying relation with the central portion of the shirt, latch means adapted to retain the L-shaped arms in said overlying relation with the shirt folded, means for automatically moving said latch means sequentially to inoperative and operative positions when said - shaped arms are moved into overlying relation to the shirt, means connected with the housing for pivoting the O 5 20 2 5 30 5 5 60 65 70 75 3. housing, the folding board and L-shaped arms upwardly and simultaneously releasing the collar engaging means for enabling removal of the folded shirt, said housing being provided with a pivotal plate mounted thereon, said pivotal plate including another pair of arms adapted to overlie the shirt in overlying relation to the folding board when in operative position, said plate being spring biased toward said folding board, means interconnecting said L-shaped arms and the pivotal plate for releasing the plate upon initial inward movement of one of said L-shaped arms including a reciprocating plunger disposed in said housing, said pivotal plate having a lug extend ing downwardly for swinging movement in a vertical plane, said plunger having an inclined end disposed in the path of movement of the lug whereby the lug may pass the plunger and force it longitudinally, spring means urging the plunger longitudinally toward the lug where by the plunger will fall behind the lug and lock the lug with the plate in upwardly inclined relation to the hous ing, a sliding rack mounted in said housing, a pinion gear connected to the one pivotal L-shaped arm and rotated in response to pivotal movement thereof for urg ing the rack longitudinally, and abutment means carried by the rack for engagement with a portion of the plung er for retracting the plunger thus releasing the pivotal plate and the pair of arms thereon when the one - shaped arm is pivoted inwardly initially, said means for engaging the collar including a pair of slides mounted for lateral movement inwardly and outwardly in relation to the side edges of the table surface, guide means for guiding the movement of said slides, each of said slides having an inwardly facing rack thereon with the racks disposed in parallel facing relationship and in telescopic overlying relationship, an idler spur gear interconnecting the racks and supported from the table surface thereby Synchronizing the movement of the collar engaging mem bers, one of said slides being provided with a depending bracket thereon, a rod slidably receiving a portion of the bracket and being rigid with the table surface, spring means on the rod urging the bracket outwardly thus urg ing the slides outwardly, and foot pedal operated means engaged with the bracket for moving the bracket and the slides inwardly. 7. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said foot pedal operated means includes a foot pedal, an elon gated rod connected to the foot pedal, a sprocket chain connected to the upper end of the rod, a sprocket gear mounted on the table surface over which the sprocket chain passes, the free end of the sprocket chain being connected to the bracket for moving the bracket inwardly. 8. A shirt folding machine comprising a table surface for receiving a shirt in face down relation, said table Surface having an opening, means mounted below said table surface and disposed in said opening for engage ment with the shirt collar, a housing mounted pivotally at one end of said table suface, a folding board mounted on said housing for movement therewith whereby the folding board may move into contacting relation with the shirt positioned on the table surface, a pair of L shaped arms mounted on said housing for engagement with the shirt and forming a folding guide for the side edge portions and the sleeves of the shirt, said L-shaped arms being each pivotal about a longitudinal axis for Swinging the side edge portions and the sleeve portions of the shirt into overlying relation with the central por tion of the shirt, latch means adapted to retain the L shaped arms in said overlying relation with the shirt folded, means for automatically moving said latch means sequentially to inoperative and operative positions when said L-shaped arms are moved into overlying relation to the shirt, means connected with the housing for pivoting the housing, the folding board and L-shaped arms up Wardly and simultaneously releasing the collar engaging means for enabling removal of the folded shirt, said hous ing being provided with a pivotal plate mounted thereon,
said pivotal plate including another pair of arms adapted to overlie the shirt in overlying relation to the folding board when in operative position, said plate being spring biased toward said foiding board, means interconnecting said L-shaped arms and the pivotal plate for releasing the plate upon initial inward movement of one of said L-shaped arms including a reciprocating plunger disposed in said housing, said pivotal plate having a lug extending downwardly for swinging movement in a vertical plane, said plunger having an inclined end disposed in the path of movement of the lug whereby the lug may pass the plunger and force it longitudinally, spring means urging the plunger longitudinally toward the lug whereby the plunger will fall behind the lug and lock the lug with the plate in upwardly inclined relation to the housing, a sliding rack mounted in said housing, a pinion gear con nected to the one pivotal L-shaped arm and rotated in response to pivotal movement thereof for urging the rack longitudinally, and abutment means carried by the rack for engagement with a portion of the plunger for retract ing the plunger thus releasing the pivotal plate and the pair of arms thereon when the one L-shaped arm is piv oted inwardly initially, said means for engaging the col lar including a pair of slides mounted for lateral move ment inwardly and outwardly in relation to the side edges of the table surface, guide means for guiding the move ment of said slides, each of said slides having an inward ly facing rack thereon with the racks disposed in parallel facing relationship and in telescopic overlying relation 20 25 () ship, an idler spur gear interconnecting the racks and Supported from the table surface thereby synchronizing the movement of the collar engaging members, one of said slides being provided with a depending bracket there on, a rod slidably receiving a portion of the bracket and being rigid with the table surface, spring means on the rod urging the bracket outwardly thus urging the slides outwardly, and foot pedal operated means engaged with the bracket for moving the bracket and the slides inward ly, said foot pedal operated means including a foot pedal, a source of pressurized fluid, a piston and cylinder ar rangement connected to the bracket for movement there of, and means interconnecting the foot pedal and a con trol valve for introducing fluid pressure into the piston and cylinder arrangement thus moving the bracket in wardly for releasing the shirt collar from the slides. 9. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein each of Said slides includes a base plate removably attached there to, and upwardly and outwardly inclined members for hooking engagement with the shirt collar for forming and stretching the shirt collar when the slides are moved outwardly. References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,913,156 Pearson et al. ---------- Nov. 17, 1959 2,950,848 Gayring -------------- Aug. 30, 1960 2,954,908 Plehal ---------------- Nov. 4, 1960 3,013,704 Freeman -------------- Dec. 19, 1961